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Someone holding up a cocktail in a coupe glass. — A cocktail at Long Play Lounge.

Where to Drink in Austin and Avoid the SXSW Crowds

Booze up in peace

by Nadia Chaudhury Mar 8, 2023, 4:30pm CST

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A cocktail at Long Play Lounge.

| Long Play Lounge

by Nadia Chaudhury Mar 8, 2023, 4:30pm CST

Drinking is as necessary as eating during South by Southwest (SXSW) craziness, and no Austinite wants to walk into a bar full of badge-wearing people shilling their start-up, film, or band when all you want is to throw back a familiar cocktail or beer and pretend nothing out of the ordinary is happening. Get away from all of that noise and drink up with Eater’s updated guide to the best bars not participating in the festival.

Find sweet relief (and an extensive beer list) at Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery in Crestview, opt to stay south at patio haven the Little Darlin’, or embrace the casual and familiar vibes of Nickel City. From dives to pubs to wine bars, there’s something for everyone.

Looking to avoid SXSW with food? Eater has you covered over here. For other drinking needs, scope out Austin’s essential cocktail maps, hot new ones, iconic drinks, and places for margaritas. If you are SXSWing, check out the rest of Eater’s coverage for more dining and drinking ideas.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Austin Beerworks

One of the best Austin breweries is thankfully very far away from SXSW, plus there’s its food truck for eating purposes. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

3001 Industrial Terrace, Austin, TX 78758

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The Aristocrat Lounge

The neighborhood-friendly bar in Brentwood is a safe not-SXSW bet with excellent food from Indonesian truck Yeni’s Fusion in tow. There are kegged and frozen cocktails but none of the accompanying pretension. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

6507 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78757

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The Long Play Lounge

The Highland bar is about cocktails, beers, and records so you can listen to music without the SXSW nonsense. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

704 W St Johns Ave, Austin, TX 78752

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Austin Alfresco Heatmap: Where to Eat Outside Right Now, 2019

Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery

This Crestview cooperatively owned pub pours a fine selection of craft beers, both from its own brewers and across the country. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

7020 Easy Wind Dr, Austin, TX 78752

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Also featured in:

The Tigress

This small North Loop cocktail bar gives new meaning to "attention to detail" when it comes to cocktails and beers. Every pour is precise, every pint perfection. There are indoor and outdoor areas. To-go orders can be placed online.

100 W. North Loop Blvd., Austin, TX 78751

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Also featured in:

Workhorse Bar

North Loop spot Workhorse Bar has a tap wall crammed with affordably priced craft beers, plus super affordable well drinks and well-made cocktail classics. Go for a margarita, and stay for a brew you’ve never heard of before. There are indoor and outdoor areas. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online.

Open in Google Maps

100 N Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751, Austin, TX 78751

Drink.Well

The cocktails at the North Loop bar are poured by knowledgeable bartenders who love to talk about their process. Beware: it is a small bar that fills up quickly, but it's a great place to bring a small group of friends. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

207 E 53rd St., Austin, TX 78751

Visit Website

A bar — Drink.Well.

Also featured in:

Barfly's

Now is the time to drink at North Austin dive bars. Might as well start with the best one. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

5420 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751

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B.D. Riley's Irish Pub at Mueller

For Mueller-area needs, head to the Irish bar for beers. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

1905 Aldrich St #130, Austin, TX 78723

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Also featured in:

Crown & Anchor Pub

SXSW thankfully (or not so thankfully) overlaps with spring break for the University of Texas at Austin students, so now is the time to head to the north campus bar for a beer on the patio and/or a game of darts inside. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

Open in Google Maps

2911 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78705

Visit Website

The Butterfly Bar

The Butterfly Bar at the Vortex Theater in Cherrywood features a dark cozy interior, but the real draw is the outdoor beer garden, perfect for sunset drinks. Bonus: one of the city’s best Italian trucks, Patrizi’s, is parked on the patio. And there are two roaming cats. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

Open in Google Maps

2307 Manor Road, Austin, TX 78741

Nickel City

The friendly Central East Austin neighborhood bar offers something for everyone. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

Open in Google Maps

1133 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

A bar. — Nickel City.

Apt 115

Take the time to explore many many wines at the East Seventh Street wine bar. There are indoor dine-in services.

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2025 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Frazier's

The East Riverside bar is the perfect new dive to hole up with food and drinks. It’s even from a co-owner of the famed Austin honky-tonk White Horse. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

Open in Google Maps

2538 Elmont Dr, Austin, TX 78741

Visit Website

Bender Bar & Grill

No-nonsense sports haven Bender Bar features cheap drinks and solid service with a neighborhood feel. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Open in Google Maps

321 W Ben White Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

St. Elmo Brewing Company

For South Austin beer needs, head to the appropriately named brewery in the St. Elmo neighborhood. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

440 E St Elmo Rd G-2, Austin, TX 78745

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Also featured in:

The Little Darlin'

Family-friendly and super casual, The Little Darlin’ has a great patio and cheap drink specials deep in south Austin. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

6507 Circle S Rd, Austin, TX 78745

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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Austin Beerworks

3001 Industrial Terrace, Austin, TX 78758

One of the best Austin breweries is thankfully very far away from SXSW, plus there’s its food truck for eating purposes. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

3001 Industrial Terrace, Austin, TX 78758

Visit Website

The Aristocrat Lounge

6507 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78757

The neighborhood-friendly bar in Brentwood is a safe not-SXSW bet with excellent food from Indonesian truck Yeni’s Fusion in tow. There are kegged and frozen cocktails but none of the accompanying pretension. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

6507 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78757

Visit Website

The Long Play Lounge

704 W St Johns Ave, Austin, TX 78752

The Highland bar is about cocktails, beers, and records so you can listen to music without the SXSW nonsense. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

704 W St Johns Ave, Austin, TX 78752

Visit Website

Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery

7020 Easy Wind Dr, Austin, TX 78752

This Crestview cooperatively owned pub pours a fine selection of craft beers, both from its own brewers and across the country. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

7020 Easy Wind Dr, Austin, TX 78752

Visit Website

The Tigress

100 W. North Loop Blvd., Austin, TX 78751

This small North Loop cocktail bar gives new meaning to "attention to detail" when it comes to cocktails and beers. Every pour is precise, every pint perfection. There are indoor and outdoor areas. To-go orders can be placed online.

100 W. North Loop Blvd., Austin, TX 78751

Visit Website

Workhorse Bar

100 N Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751, Austin, TX 78751

North Loop spot Workhorse Bar has a tap wall crammed with affordably priced craft beers, plus super affordable well drinks and well-made cocktail classics. Go for a margarita, and stay for a brew you’ve never heard of before. There are indoor and outdoor areas. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online.

Open in Google Maps

100 N Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751, Austin, TX 78751

Drink.Well

207 E 53rd St., Austin, TX 78751

The cocktails at the North Loop bar are poured by knowledgeable bartenders who love to talk about their process. Beware: it is a small bar that fills up quickly, but it's a great place to bring a small group of friends. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

207 E 53rd St., Austin, TX 78751

Visit Website

A bar — Drink.Well.

Barfly's

5420 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751

Now is the time to drink at North Austin dive bars. Might as well start with the best one. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

5420 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751

Visit Website

B.D. Riley's Irish Pub at Mueller

1905 Aldrich St #130, Austin, TX 78723

For Mueller-area needs, head to the Irish bar for beers. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

1905 Aldrich St #130, Austin, TX 78723

Visit Website

Crown & Anchor Pub

2911 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78705

SXSW thankfully (or not so thankfully) overlaps with spring break for the University of Texas at Austin students, so now is the time to head to the north campus bar for a beer on the patio and/or a game of darts inside. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

Open in Google Maps

2911 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78705

Visit Website

The Butterfly Bar

2307 Manor Road, Austin, TX 78741

The Butterfly Bar at the Vortex Theater in Cherrywood features a dark cozy interior, but the real draw is the outdoor beer garden, perfect for sunset drinks. Bonus: one of the city’s best Italian trucks, Patrizi’s, is parked on the patio. And there are two roaming cats. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

Open in Google Maps

2307 Manor Road, Austin, TX 78741

Nickel City

1133 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702

The friendly Central East Austin neighborhood bar offers something for everyone. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

Open in Google Maps

1133 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

A bar. — Nickel City.

Apt 115

2025 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Take the time to explore many many wines at the East Seventh Street wine bar. There are indoor dine-in services.

Open in Google Maps

2025 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

Frazier's

2538 Elmont Dr, Austin, TX 78741

The East Riverside bar is the perfect new dive to hole up with food and drinks. It’s even from a co-owner of the famed Austin honky-tonk White Horse. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

Open in Google Maps

2538 Elmont Dr, Austin, TX 78741

Visit Website

Bender Bar & Grill

321 W Ben White Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

No-nonsense sports haven Bender Bar features cheap drinks and solid service with a neighborhood feel. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Open in Google Maps

321 W Ben White Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Related Maps

St. Elmo Brewing Company

440 E St Elmo Rd G-2, Austin, TX 78745

For South Austin beer needs, head to the appropriately named brewery in the St. Elmo neighborhood. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

440 E St Elmo Rd G-2, Austin, TX 78745

Visit Website

The Little Darlin'

6507 Circle S Rd, Austin, TX 78745

Family-friendly and super casual, The Little Darlin’ has a great patio and cheap drink specials deep in south Austin. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

6507 Circle S Rd, Austin, TX 78745

Visit Website

Related Maps